Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad Compound

What an eerie feeling it was walking around the Abbottabad Compound where Osama Bin Laden was killed May 1, 2011.

Osama bin Laden's compound at Abbottabad, Pakistan

A metaverse development team, Avatrian, drawing on data from Google Earth and media sources, created in Second Life and opened to the public a replica of Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottobad, Pakistan.

Flying toward the Abbottabad Compound

In real life, the U.S. government had concluded a years-long manhunt for the leader of al-Qaeda and architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C.

Nearing the Abbottabad Compound

The news that perseverance had paid off and justice had been accomplished by the U.S. Navy SEALs was dramatic.

Approaching the Abbottabad Compound

Was it a journalist’s inquisitiveness, joy over the retribution, simple morbid curiosity? For whatever reason, I was drawn to to the virtual world recreation for a first hand look.

Inside the Abbottabad Compound

What I found there was a true-to-life recreation of bin Laden’s compound at Abbottabad.

Blackhawk at Abbottabad Compound

It depicted the stealth Blackhawk helicopters, including the one destroyed by SEALs after it crashed.

The destroyed Blackhawk at Abbottabad Compound

The U.S. had not warned Pakistan in advance of the raid and the helicopters were able to fly unnoticed to the compound from a base in Afghanistan.

Abbottabad Compound through the Blackhawk cockpit window

Walking around inside the house and grounds and peering inside the chopper weirded me out, gave me the willies. I expected to have to duck for cover at any moment. When a bunch of other tourists arrived, I took my notes and photos and teleported out as quickly as I could.